Tube-finishing machine.



L. H. BRINKMAN.

TUBE FINHHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION TILED SEPT.12,1912.

Patented May 5, 1914.

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Patented May 5, 1914 v I. I \mx 1 I L. H. BBINKMAN.

TUBE FINISHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.12, 1912.

WIMESSES W Wi .ishing lilachines, ot

in different operative positions.

2), l is a suitable platform on one end of LOUIS H. BRINKIVIAN, E GLEN RIDGE,

NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOB. TO BALTIMORE TUBE COMPANY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPORATION (IF MARYLAND.

'rnnn rmrsnrue MACHINE.

Specification of Eettars Patent.

Patented May i Application filed September 19., 1912. Serial No. 719,946.

To all I /i011! it may concern:

lle it known that I, Louis ll. BRINIUIAN. a citizen of the li'nited States and a resident of (ll-en Ridge. in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey. have invented certain new and useful Improvements in 'lulw-lhnwhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tube finishing machines, and more l iarticularly to machines for smoothing out any irregularities or unevenness in the shell of a tube which has previously been bent to approximately the shape desired, in order .to give the tube a smooth, uniform bore and to conform it exactly to the shape desired.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple and durable machine of the above type by means of which tubes may be rapidly finished. Y

Another object of the invention is to provide such a machine which may be readily controlled and operated with little etlort on the, part of the attendant; and still another objeet of the inven'tiouis to provide a fluid preassure-operated machine of theabove type having a single control valve by means of which the machine may be readily controlled and rapidly operated by a single attendant.

T he invention will be more readily under stood and other objects of the invention will more fully appear from'the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure. 1 shows aside elevation of the preferred embodiment of my invention. ,Fig. 2 is a broken plan view of the same with certain parts omitted and others in cross section; and Figsfl, 4:, and 5'are vertical longitudinal sections of the preferred form of a motive power operated control valve shown lleferringto the drawings (Figs. 1 and which. is mounted a suitable split die 2 of the size and shape to which-the tube is' to be finished, the die comprising upper and lower members 3 and 4-. The lower or floor member 4. is rigidly secured to the platform 1 by any suitable means, and the top or movable meml'ier 3 is secured by means of bolts 5 and 6 to a rod 7 on the other end of which is mounted-a piston 8 fitting in a cylinder 9 .the head of which is provided with a flange portion 10 secured to the upper ends of rods 11 by means of nuts 12, the lower ends of the rods being secured to the platform 1.

Adjacent one end of the die I provide a suitable guide 14- having an opening 15 through which suitable balls 16 and ll are inserted. The guidemay be of any desired structure for holding the balls and guiding them into the adjacent opening of the die, but I prefer to have the guide in the form of a cylindrical tube, as shown, and to provide the same at one end with a flange 18 fitting into the die.'by means of which the guide may be steadied and held in position. At the rear of the guide ll provide a cylinder 10 having, a piston 20 to which is secured plunger 21 the forward end of which pro;

jects through the adjacent endat the guide 15 so as to engage the balls and force them into the tube in the die when the piston is moved forward. The diameter of the fore mostball 16 is equal to the desired bore of the finished tube, and the following balls are of less diameter so that when the foremost ball has been forced through the tube, the

remaining halls may roll hack into the" guide; and in order that these balls may re turn by gravity to the guide when the plan" ger is retracted, I incline the die downward toward the guide. as shown in Fig. 1.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that the number of balls and the length of the guide and the plunger are such that the foremost ball, or as many ofthe halls as are to be of the, larger diameter. will he forced through the pipe in the die by a sin-- gle forward stroke of the plunger. feature enables the tubes to be finished much more rapidly than if the were of such proportii'ins that only one or a -few of the balls could be forced into the tube at a single stroke of the plunger. lo. order to insure a more ready control and rapid operation of such machines than has hereto;

fore been possible, and to obtain perfect colt.-

trol, with smoothness of operation, and to greatly diminish the manual assistance in the operation of such machines, I drive the pistons 8 and 20 by fluid pressure and nonnect the corresponding cylinders 9 and 19 by suitable. piping to a suitable motive power operated valve 22 controlling" the flowof motive fluid to and from thecylinders, and, in the preferred form of my invention, I

This

guide and plunger 1 too control the operation ofthis valve by a n1aster control device preferably in tllGfOl'lIl of a valve 22. v

The construction and arrangements ol the valves and the manner of connecting and operating them in the preferred form of my invention, is as follows: The motivepower operated valve 22 consists of a cylindrical shell 23, the ends of which are closed by heads 2%, llflthe inside of the valve casing being diyided transversely by four annular flanges 25, 26,27 and 28, into compartments 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33', and Within the'outer shell bf the valve there is provided a cylinder or tube 34 extending the entire length of the valve and fitting tightly against the annular flanges 25, 2c,

27 and 28. This tube is provided with a series of perforations 36 opening into the chamber 30, and With a. series of perforations 37, 3S and 39 opening respectively into the chambers 31, 32 and The inner cyljinder 34.- is provided with a rod 40 carry ing three piston rings or heads 41, 42 and 43 fittin Within the cylinder 34 so as to slide bflll and forth therein. To one end of the inner cylinder 34; there is connected a pipe 45 in which is placed the mastercontrolled valve 9-2 having a. port connected to a pipe 4.6 leading to a suitable source of high pressure fluid, not shown, with a second port connected With an exhanst pipe 47,

While the other end of the cylinder is eonnected to a pipe 48 leading to a suitable source oi. low pressure fluid such, for example, a city Water supply. The chamber 33 of the valve is connected by pipe 49 to the high pressure source above-mentioned, While the valve chamber 32 is connected through pipe 50 to the upper end of the cylinder 9, the valve chamber 31 being connected by pipe 51 to the rear end of cylinder 20 and valve chamber 30 being connected to an exhaust pipe 52. The front end of cylinder 19 and the lower end of I cylinder 9 are respectively connected by connected to a bell-crank lever 58 extending ,into a path of travel of a suitable projec-v 'ion 59 mounted on the upper side of the plunger 21 so as to'move therewith through a suitable slot iii) along the cylindrical ball guide i l, The arrangement is such that when the plunger has moved forward to such an extent as to force the loading hall 16 through the tube, the projection 55) will engage the crank 58 and. throw it into a position to cut oil the high pressure from pipe 45 and connect the pipe with the exhaust pipe 47.

The operation of the apparatus as described is as follows: Assuming that the plunger ll retraclcd in the position shown in lfiig. l, the halls being in position, the die being open with the upper hall" of the die 3 elevated and the lever 58 of the ma tier-control valve being in the dotted line position shown in l ig. .l, with l0\\' pressure fluid holding the pislon S raised and the piston 20 in its rear position, and the piston of the motive-power operated valve in the position shoivn' in Fig. 3; to start the ma chine, the operator throws lever 58 ol' the mastencontrol valve into the lull line position shoivn in l ig. l, ivhcreu uin high pres sure is admitted through pipes in and i3 against the end piston head l l oi the motive power operated valve, movingthe same to the left. Asthc rod 10 carrying the three piston heads 41, 42 and moves to the left, the ports or openings 38 are first uncovcrul as shown in Fig. 4, admitting the high pres sure fluid from pipe 49 through ports or openings 39 and 38, into valve chamber and from thence through pipe 50 to the upper end of cylinder 9 to force the piston doivi'nvard to close the die. As this piston isdescending the rod 10 continues in its movement to the left until it reaches the po sition shown in Fig. 5, whereupon high prcssure fluid is also admitted through the ports 3'? into valve chan'iber 31, thence through pipe 51 to the rear end of the cylinder 19, causing the plunger 21 to move forward. forcing the balls through the tube. When the plunger 21 is moved forward sufliciently to force ball 16 through the tube, the projection 59 carried on the plunger engages the operating lever 58 ot' the masten control valve forcingit into position to cut oil the high pressure from pipe 45 and connecting said pipe to' the exhaust pipe 4-7, whereupon the low pressure (preferably connected to the city mains) acting through pipe 48 on the other end of piston head 4;]. of the motivepoiver operated valve, forces the rod 40* With ils piston heads'to the right, first uncovering ports 36 and 37 to connect pipe 51, leading from the rear end of cylinder 19, to exhaust pipe 52 and subsequently uncovering ports 38 to connect pipe SOleading from the upper end of cylinder il to exhaust pipe 5.2,thus permitting the city pressure acting on the opposite ends of these cylinders to move them so as to return plunger 21 to its retracted position and elevate the upper half of the die.

It'ivill be seen from, the above described operation that-l haveprovided' a machine on the part of tie nclines of the character described, which in the preferred embodiment of my invention is practically automatic in its ope -'ion and only requires little attention placing the balls in the guide and throwing the lever 58 to start'the operation, the parts being automatically returned in position for a second operation Without; thought operator. Such a machine may be operated with considerable less skill on the part of the attendant than is required in tube finishing machines heretofore known, and without effort on the part of the operator. It will also be observed that the machine operates with great efficiency in the motive power necessary to operate it, since the low-pressure fluid is not exhausted but simply acts as a bufier against the high pressure fluid to automatically return the parts when the tube in the die has been. finished. It will be obvious to those vskilled in the art that in so far as certain features of my invention are concerned, various changes in the arrangement, constructionand operation oi the machine may be made without depart ing from the scope and spirit of the 111-. vention such for instance as the substitution of some other arrangement and connection for the fluid pressure for returning the cylinders to their normal position in place of the normally applied low pressure acting to automatically return these parts, or the substitution of differently constructed valves or other parts of the machine, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself other than is indicated in the accompanyin claims.

Having t 1115 described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a tube finishing machine, the combina tion of a split die for holding the tube and confining its shell to the desired shape and size, one member of the die being movable to permit the placing of the tube in the die, a guide for balls registering with one end ot the die, said balls, power-operated means including a piston actuating the movable part of the die and a plunger tor forcing the halls into the tube in the die, and a control device governing said. pmver-operatcd means to close the die and to force the ballsinto the tube,

2. in a tube finishing machine, the combination of a split die for holding the tube and confining itsshell to the desired shape and size, one member of the die being movable to permitthe placing of the tube in the die, a guide holding a plurality of balls registering with one end of the die, said balls, power-operated means including a piston for actuatingthemovablepart of the die and a plunger for forcing theballs into the tube in the die, said ballslaeing suliicient aside from end of the die,

' end of the'dic, the floor member in number and the plunger and guide be ing of such. length that the foremost ball will be forced through the tube by a single stroke-of the plunger, and means controlling said. powcr-operated means to close the die and force the balls into the tube.

In a tube finishing machine,tbc combination of a split die for holding the tube and confining its shell to the desired shape and size,- one momber of the die being movable to permit the placing of the tube in the die, a guide for balls registering with one said balls, means including a cylinder and hydraulicallyoperated piston connected with the movable part of the die for actuating the'same, a plunger movable back and forth to force the balls into the tube, means including a cylinder and hydraulically-operated piston actuating said plunger, pipes leading to said cylinders, and valve mechanism connected with the pipes and controlling the pistons to close the die and then force the balls into the tube.

' 4.,111 a tube, finishing machine, the com-' binationof a split die for holding the tube and confining its'sh'ell to the desired shape and size, one member of the die being mov-' able to permit the placing of the tube in the die, a guidet'or ball-s registering with one p of the die sloping downward to the adjacent end of theg'uid'e so as to permit the return of the balls thereto by gravity, said balls, poweroperated means includin a piston actuating the movable part of the die and a plunger for forcing the balls into the tube in the die, and a control device governing said power-operated means to close the die and to force the balls intothe tube.

5. In a. tube finishing machine, the combination of a split diefor-holdin r the tube and confining its shell. to thedesire'd shape and size, one member of the die i l-:llig'l1IOV" able to permit the placing of the tube in the die, a guide holding a plurality of balls registering with one end of the die, the floor member of the die sloping downward to the adjacent end of the guide so as to permit the return of the balls thereto by gravity, said balls power-operated means including a piston or actuating the movable part of the die and a plunger for forcing the balls 4 into the tube 111 the the. said bulls being sutficicnt in m'unber and the plunger and guide being of such length that the foremost ball will be lidrced through the tube by a single stroke of the plunger, and means controlling said power-operated mans to close the die and force the balls into the tube.

lit a tube finishing machine, the'coinbination of asplit die for holding the tube 'and confining its shell to the desiredshape and size, onemembc'r of the die beingmovable to permit the placing of the tube in the 'die, a guide tor'balls registering with one end of the die, the floor member of the die slopingdownward to the ada'ccnt end of the guide so as to permit the return of the balls thereto by gravity, said balls, means including a eylinderptnd l'iydraulically-operated piston connected with the movable part of the die toractuatiug the same, a plunger movable back and forth through the guide, to engage and force the balls into the tube, means including a cylinder and hydraulically-operated piston actuating said plunger, pipes leading to said cylinders, and valve mechanism ctmnected with the pipes and conlrollinglhe pistons to close the die and then force the balls into the tube.

7. In a. tube finishing machine, the combinatimrot a split die for holding the tube and confining its shell to the desired shape and size, one member of the die being movable to permit the placing of the tube in the die, a guide holding a plurality of balls registering with one end of the die, said balls, poweroperated means including a piston tor actuating the movable part of the die and a plunger :lor t'orcinglthe balls into the tube in the die, said bulls being suliicientin number and the plunger and guide being oi such length that the foremost. ball will be forced through the tube by a single stroke of the plunger, and a control device connect-- ed with said pewer-opcrattai means tor'governing the same to open and close the die and to force the balls into the tube.

8. In a tube finishing machine, the combination of a s'plit die for holding the tube and confining its shell to the desired shape and size, one member of the die being movable to permit the placing of the tube in the die, a guidet'or balls registering with one end of the die, said balls, means including a cylinder and hydraulically-eperated piston connected with the movable part of the die for actuating the same, a plunger movable back and forth to force the balls into the tube, means including a cylinder and hydraulically-operated piston actuating said plunger, fluid pressure pipes leading to each side of the pistons, and a control valve governing the admission and outlet of said tiuid through the .pipes to move'the pistons so as to close the die, move the plunger forward and then retract the plunger and open the die 9. In a tube finishing machine, the combination of asplit die for holding the tube and confining its shell to the desired shape and size, one member of the die being movable to permit the placing of the tube in the die, a guide for balls registering with one end of the die, saiclballs, power-operated means including a piston actuating the movable part of the die and a plunger for forcing the balls into the tube in the die, and means inclnding'a single manually operated control valve for supplying and controlling power to said piston and plunger to operate the same. 4

10. In a tube finishing machine, the combination of a split die for holding the tube and confining its shell to the desired shape and size, one member of the die being movable to permit the placing of the tube in the die, a guide for balls registering with one end of the die, said balls, means including a cylinder and hydraulically-operated piston connected with the movable part of the die for actuating the same, a plunger movable back and forth to force the balls into the tube, means including a, cylinder and bydraulically-operated piston actuating said plunger, fluid pressure conveying pipes leading to each end of said cylinders, and a single valve mechanism connected to said pipes for controlling the admission of fluid pressure to each end of the cylinders for operating the piston and plunger.

11. In a tube finishing machine, the com biuation of a split die for holding the tube and confining its shell to the desired shape and size, one member of the die being movable to permit the placing of the tube, in the die. a guide for balls registering with one end of the die, said balls, means including a cylinde' and hydraulically-operated piston connected \vith'the movable part. of the die for actuating the same, a plunger movable back and forth to force the balls into the tube. means including acylinder and bydraulically-operated piston actuating said plunger, tluid pressure conveying pipes leading to each end o'f'the cylinders, and a single valve mechanism connected. with said pipes for controlling thi admission and exhaust of fluid pressure to and from each end of the cylinders.

12. In a tube finishing machine, the combination of a split die for holding the tube and confining its shell to the desired shape and size, one member of the die being movable to permit the placing of the tube in the die, a. guide for balls registering with one end of the die. said balls, means including a cylinder and hydraulically-operated piston connected with the movable part of the die for actuating the same, a plunger movable back and forth to :l'orce the balls into the tube, means including a cylinder and bydraulieally-operated piston actuating said plunger, fluid pressure conveying pipes connected to said cylinders, a motive power-operated valve connected with said pipes to control the admission of fluid pressure to the cylinders to close the die and then force the bells into the tube, and means for applying motive power to said valve. 13. In a tube finishing machine, the cumbination of a split die tor holding the tube and confining its shell to the desired shape and size, one member of the die being movable to permit the placing of the tube. in the ill mousse power-operated valve connected with said pipes to control the admission and exhaust of fluid pressure to and from each end of the cylinders, said valve being biased in operation to the position for exhausting the fluid pressure from one end of the cylinders return the piston and plunger to their normal position, and means for applying power to the valve to move it so as to'admit fluid pressure to the cylinders to close the die and move the plunger forward.

14:. In a tube linishin machine, the combination of a split die or holding the tube and confining vits shell to the desired shape and siae,.one member of the die being movable to permit the placing of the tube in the die, a guide for balls registering with one end of the die, said balls, means including a cylinder and h draulically-operated piston connected with the movable part of the die for actuating the same, a plunger movable back and forth to force the balls into the tube, means including a cylinder and I hydraulically-operated piston actuating said p unger, pipes for leading high pressure iluid to one end of said cyllnders, a valve connected to said pipes for controlling; the admission and exhaust of fluid to and from the cylinders, and pipes for leading rela tivelylovv pressure fiuid'to the other end of the cylinders to automatically return the piston and plunger to their normal position when high pressure is cut oil from said cylinders.

15. in a tube finishing machine, the combination of a split die for holdin the tube and confining its shell to the desired shape and size, one member of the die being movable to permit the placing of the tube in the die, a guide or balls registering with one end of. the die, said balls, means including a cylinder and hydraulically-operated piston connected with the movable part of the die for actuating the same, a plunger movable back and forth to force the balls into the tube, means including a cylinder and hydraulically-opera ted piston actuating said plunger, pipes for leading high pressure fluid to one end of said cylinders, a valve connected to said pipes for controlling the admission and exhaust of fluid to and from the cylinders, and pipes for leading relalow pressure fluid to the other end of cylinders to automatically return the piston and plunger to their normal position when highpressure is cut oil from said cylinders, said valve being biased in operation to the position for exhausting the high pressure fluid from the cylinders so that the low pressure fluid may automatically return the piston and plunger to their normal positions.

16. In a tube finishing machine, the combination of, a split die for holding the tube and confining its shell to the desired shape and size, one member of the die being movable topermit the placing of the tube in the die, a guide for balls registering with one end of the die, said balls, means including a cylinder and hydraulically-operated piston connected with the movable part of the die for actuating the same, a plunger movable back and forth to force the balls into the tube, means including a cylinder and hydraulically-operated piston actuating said plunger, pipes for leading high pressure fluid to one end of said cylinders, a valve connected to said pipes for controlling the admission and exhaust of fluid to and from the cylinders, pipes for leading relatively low pressure fluid to the other end of the cylinders to automatically return the piston and plunger to their normal position when high pressure is cut off from said cylinders, said valve beinp' biased in operation to the position for ex iausting the high pressure fluid from the cylinders so that the low pressure fluid may automatically return the piston and plunger to their normal positions, and means including a master control device for controlling thc movement of said valve to admit high pressure fluid to the cylinders bination of a split die or holding the Lube and confining its shell to the desired shape and size, one member of the die being movable to permit the placing of the tube in. the die, a guide for balls registering with one end of the die, said balls, means including a cylinder and hydraulically-operated piston connected with the movable part of the die for actuating the same, a plunger movable back and forth to force the balls into the tube, leans including a cylinder and hydraulically-operated piston actuating said plunger, pipes for leading high pressure fluid to one end of said cylinders, a valve connected to said pipes for controlling the admission and exhaust of fluid to and from the cylinders, pipes for leading relatively low pressure fluid to the other end of the cylinders to automatically return the piston and plunger to their normal position when high pressure is cut'oll' from said cylinders, said valve being biased in operation to the position for exhausting the high pressure fluid-from the cylinders so that thelow pressure fluid may automatically refit turn the piston and plunger to their normal positions, and means for controlling said valve comprising a part connected with the plunger to move therewith and operatively related to the valve to cause the same when the plunger has been moved forward, to be moved into a position for exhausting the high pressure from the cylinders to permit the return of the piston and plunger.

18. In a tube finishing machine, the combination of a split die for holding the tube and confining its shell to the desired shape and size, one member of the die being movable to permit the placing oi the tube in the die, a guide for halls registering with one end of the die, said balls, means including a cylinder and hydraulically-operated piston connected with the movable part oi. the die for actuating the same, a plunger movable back and forth to force the ball into the tube, means including a cylinder and hydraulically-opcrated piston actuating said plunger, pipes leading high pressure fluid to one end of said cylinders,

pipes for'leading a relatively low pressure fluid to the other end of the cylinders to automatically return the piston and plunger to their normal positions when the high pressure to the cylinders is cut oil, a valve connected with the high pressure pipes for controlling the admission and exhaust of fluid to and from the cylinders, means for normally applying power to the valve to move it into the position for exhausting the high pressure fluid from. the cylinders, and means including a master control device, for applying power to the valve to move it into position to admit high pressure to the cylinders.

19. In a tube finishing machine, the combination of a split die for holding the tube and confining its shell to the desired shape and size, one member of the die being movable. to permit the placing of the tube in the d ie, a guide for balls registering with one end of the die, said halls, means including a cyl inder and hydrauliallyoperated piston connected with the movable part of the die for actuating the same, a plunger movable back and forth to force the balls into the tube, means including a cylinder and hydraulically-operated piston actuating. said plunger, pipes for leading high pressure iluit. to one end of the cylinders, pipes for leading relatively low pressure fluid to the other end of the cylinders for automatically returning the piston and plunger to their normal position when the high pressure is cut off from the cylinders, valve mechanism comprising a sliding piston and with uorts connected to the high pressure pipes lead ing to the cylinders and an exhaustport, a pipe connected with said valve mechanism on one side of the piston for normally applying relatively low pressure fluid thereto for moving the piston into position to exhaust the high pressure from the cylinders, a. pipe connected with the valve mechanism on the other side of the piston for conduct ing fluid pressure thereto to move it against the low pressure, and a valve controlling the fluid pressure to the valve through said last pipe.

20. In a tube finishing machine, the combination of a split die for holding the tube and confining its shell to the desired shape and size, one member of the die being movable to permit the placing of the tube in the die, a guide for balls registering with one end of the die, said balls, means including a cylinder and hydraulically-operated piston connected with the movable part of the die for actuating the same, a plunger movable back and forth to force the balls into the ,tube, means including a cylinder and hydraulically-operated piston actuating said plunger, pipes for leading high pressure fluid to one end of the cylinders, pipes for leading relatively low pressure fluid to the other end of the cylinders for autouultically returning the piston and plunger to their normal position when the high pressure is cut oil from the cylinders, valve mechanism comprising a sliding piston and with ports connected to the high pressure pipes leading to the cylinders and an exhaust port, a, pipe connected with said valve mechanism on one side of the piston for normally applying relatively low pressure fluid thereto for moving the piston into position to exhaust the high pressure from the cylinders, a pipe connected with the valve mechanism on the other side of the piston for conducting fluid pressure thereto toimove it against the low pressure, a valve controlling the iluid pressure to the valve mechanism through said last pipe, and means including a projection from said controlling valve and a projection from the plunger adapted to engage therewith when the plunger has been moved forward to out oh the high pressure fluid from the valve mechanism and permit the piston and plunger to be auton'iatically returned to their normal positions.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presem'c of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS H. llltlNKll'ljiN.

Witnesses SAMUEL llal. Warm, .lr.,

Enwm Score; 

